this post was submitted on 05 Nov 2023
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Android

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Manufacturers don’t make displays under 6 inches available for purchase, with special cases (such as the iPhone Mini) being made under exclusive contracts. The best lead they have so far is to try to use displays designed for the front part of a foldable phone, but they’re yet to strike an agreement.

TIL that display manufacturers are also part of the reason why we aren't getting small phones and why it's probably even harder for manufacturers like Fairphone to make them.

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[–] A_Very_Big_Fan@lemmy.world 93 points 2 years ago (6 children)

I just want one with a removable battery and a headphone jack...

[–] Jesus_666@feddit.de 26 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Wait until 2027 and buy a Sony then, I guess. They're the only manufacturer who consistently includes a headphone jack and starting in 2027 all phones sold in the EU have to have removable batteries. Yeah, it's pretty sad that that's the only option...

[–] A_Very_Big_Fan@lemmy.world 12 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Guess I'll be moving to the EU in a few years ;-;

[–] Jesus_666@feddit.de 31 points 2 years ago (1 children)

You don't need to; the Brussels effect has you covered.

It's cheaper to sell phones with replaceable batteries worldwide than to design the same phone twice for different markets. So most major manufacturers will probably just sell EU-friendly phones everywhere just like when the EU required USB charging ports.

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[–] TheDarksteel94@sopuli.xyz 4 points 2 years ago

Yeah, it's pretty great here lol

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[–] XiELEd@lemmy.world 13 points 2 years ago

Like the old days, man

[–] Zorque@kbin.social 7 points 2 years ago (4 children)

I don't mind not having a removable battery, and a headphone jack is nice but not make or break... but so few phones apparently have expandable storage these days.

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[–] Deconceptualist@lemm.ee 7 points 2 years ago

Me too, Fan, me too.

[–] squaresinger@feddit.de 5 points 2 years ago

...and a qwerty keyboard.

[–] ours@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

At the last EU is fighting to make your first wish happen.

RIP headphone jacks.

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[–] gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 44 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Meanwhile me, a 6'4" man with big ass hands, is finally happy that most phones actually feel big enough for my fucking hands for once

Have an older iPhone we use at work and I almost can't type on it with how small the fuckin screen is lol

But yeah, options are nice, make small screens more often ya nerds

[–] DudeDudenson@lemmings.world 5 points 2 years ago

I just want a small screen and a physical keyboard like phones had when BlackBerry was still a thing. I had absolutely no trouble blind tiping on those even tho I have sausage fingers.

These days I depend on autocorrect and it betrays me fairly often

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[–] EnderMB@lemmy.world 39 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Most of the issues people have with Android are one and the same. Compared to a decade ago, there isn't any choice any more

Years ago, there was almost too much variety at times, and manufacturers would experiment heavily alongside Google. Some phones had physical keyboards, some had no headphone jacks, some had no physical buttons at all, and they came in either stupidly small or (at the time) freakishly large.

Now, for some reason Android feels very sanitized, even the shite that manufacturers stick on top of stock to make it feel like it's their product and not Google's. There aren't even that many manufacturers any more, and unlike the past when Android embraced being a bit different, it all feels like everyone is trying to follow Apple instead of Android leading the pack....

[–] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 16 points 2 years ago

Very surprising that there's no 5.5" phones on the market. I still have good eyes and I'd rather have more pocket space. Sticking with the pixel 7a for now, but yearning for a new Xperia X Compact.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 7 points 2 years ago

It's all become so bland.

[–] inspxtr@lemmy.world 39 points 2 years ago (7 children)

I don’t get what the obsession with big phones is. Is it that most people really want big phones or that companies can charge more for them?

[–] guacupado@lemmy.world 29 points 2 years ago

It's not that people want big phones, it's that people like big screens.

[–] Pechente@feddit.de 21 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Two main reasons I think:

  • it’s easier to make a big phone as there’s more space for all the components
  • the average consumer doesn’t use computers as much anymore, so people start using their phone for all kinds of things where they benefit from the bigger screen
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[–] weew@lemmy.ca 14 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

People generally just want the biggest screen they can hold in their hands comfortably.

For most people that seems to have settled into the 6.5-6.7" range, depending on aspect ratio and bezels.

[–] Ryan213@lemmy.world 13 points 2 years ago

I'm old and my eyesight requires them now. Lol

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[–] Zippit@lemmy.world 31 points 2 years ago

I have small hands and I hate that I have to jerry rig my phone with shit to just reach the upper part of it.

[–] AlmightySnoo@lemmy.world 30 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

also, interesting side-by-side comparison of the Zenfone 10, the iPhone 15 and the Pixel 8 from the article:

[–] mulcahey@lemmy.world 27 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Anyone who wants to keep this convo going, check out !compactphones@lemmy.world

[–] SGHFan@lemdro.id 4 points 2 years ago
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[–] Kerb@discuss.tchncs.de 24 points 2 years ago (2 children)

i want a smartphone, that i can hold securely
while still being able to reach the entire screen.

i have pretty big hands, and even i cant reach the upper left quarter of my phone (pixel6a) without letting go of the left and bottom edges.
its ridiculous

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 14 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Putting things like a back arrow on the upper left is just asshole design, for starters.

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[–] circle@lemmy.world 10 points 2 years ago

Oh yes, to top it I have small hands - I can't reach almost any of the opposite edge without using two hands. Sigh.

[–] BlueSquid0741@lemmy.sdf.org 20 points 2 years ago (4 children)

My favourite phone ever was my first android phone in 2010, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini (e10i). Every time I’ve had to buy a phone since, I’ve looked around trying to find something similar, but it feels like no such thing will ever exist.

[–] thesorehead@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Loved that phone. Check out the Jelly Star (I have the Jelly 2) if you want a small, full featured Android. Compromises for the size and price of course, but it has a headphone jack, sd card, IR blaster, and usb-c - everything I need.

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[–] skullgiver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nl 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

[This comment has been deleted by an automated system]

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[–] JimmyChanga@lemmy.world 18 points 2 years ago

This is what is pushing me towards a flip phone. I just don't have a need for a 6.7" phone or bigger.

[–] freebread@lemm.ee 13 points 2 years ago

I'm a cyclist in the city so for me, a smaller size phone is ideal to keep it secure in a pocket. I got gifted a Pixel 6 about a year ago (wanted to stick with the Pixel 2!) and now I always need to bring some sort of pack to put it in.

[–] SternburgExport@feddit.de 13 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Mainstream ruined everything. Like it always does.

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[–] tswerts@lemmy.world 13 points 2 years ago

Thank for bringing this up. I'm currently using a Samsung Galaxy S10e. I mostly use the smartphone from my pocket:

  • listening to podcasts with earbuds on;
  • running with Strava on;
  • working in the garden with music on;
  • checking messages with my smartwatch on;
  • driving my car with Android Auto on;
  • ... . Of course I also use my smartphone itself for messaging, shopping online, banking, ordering takeaway, ... . And a larger screen would definitely be more comfortable in these cases. But having a larger smartphone when I'm currently using my smartphone while it's in my pocket, is a step back. In fact, for use at home I still have a Samsung tablet to have a bigger screen die when that's more useful. When I would switch to the SG S23 version, it seems that the dimensions of the new device are quite similar? Dimensions: S10e: 5.60 x 2.75 x 0.31 inches (142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9 mm) S23: 5.76 x 2.79 x 0.30 inches (146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6mm) Zenphone 10: 5.77 x 2.68 x 0.37 inches (146.5 x 68.1 x 9.4 mm)

So as long as the basic version of the SG s-series is sold in the above dimensions, I'm not worried 🤞

[–] Escew@lemm.ee 12 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I’m on the iPhone mini and I wish I could get a smaller phone. It is way better than the tablets my family carry!

[–] squiblet@kbin.social 8 points 2 years ago

I was disappointed when they discontinued the mini.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 11 points 2 years ago (4 children)

On the other end there doesn't seem to be any phablets either. they are all weirdly long screens.

[–] guacupado@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago

Width has to still fit in hands to be mainstream.

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[–] obinice@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago

For myself, phone screens have finally gotten to the perfect size for my hand, and a good size to actually use them for stuff comfortably.

But there should always be variation and choice, for the other users in the market!

[–] aluminium@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Not just small phones actually big phones as well. Remember the Huawei P8 Max, Sony Xperia Z Ultra or Mate 20X?

Phones these days only seem to exist between 6" and 6.8".

[–] root@aussie.zone 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I just want Sony to make another XZ1 Compact but with updated internals. Keep the screen size, camera shutter button, 3.5mm plug and make it thicker to squeeze in either wireless charging or a slightly bigger battery.

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[–] XiELEd@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)

At this point I'd rather buy a super outdated smartphone. They're small enough for my hands and pockets, dirt cheap and still functional, and most of the good games left on Android are only available on those old versions.

[–] janus2@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (3 children)

I held onto my Sony XZ2c for months after calls stopped working on it after the US 3G shutdown. I got a flip phone for making calls.

The worst part? The XZ2c has VoLTE calling capability, but all the US phone companies refuse to support it on their networks.

Now I'm begrudgingly using a OnePlus 6 and praying that I don't drop the massive thing >:[

Basically, even if we want to use aging tech we're held hostage by telecom companies, who obviously would prefer to rope people into new devices on credit plans. ARGH

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[–] cerement@slrpnk.net 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)

and one of the driving forces behind the design of the Palm Pilot was that it had to fit in a shirt pocket …

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[–] jivemasta@reddthat.com 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'm currently using a Samsung flip 5. I have it set up to use all my main apps on the outer screen, so I can just have a small screen. Then I have the option to open it for apps that I might want to be on a larger screen.

It's working out pretty well. Some days I never even use the inner screen.

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[–] FallenGrove@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago

There was actually a meme I saw a while back where a guy was wielding a sword and shield. Except the sword was an iPhone and the shield was a samsung phone.

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